What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate how topography influences minimum temperatures over a 28-month period in Coonabarabran.

February 5, 2026

A notable frost hollow at Coonabarabran, New South Wales

Key Points

To investigate how topography influences minimum temperatures over a 28-month period in Coonabarabran.
Conducted parallel observations at two distinct sites over 28 months.
Measured minimum temperatures in a valley and a plateau site.
Assessed the impact of cloud cover and wind speed on temperature differences.
Valley site temperatures were on average 4.9°C lower than the plateau site.
Maximum temperature differences reached up to 14.3°C on individual nights.
Greater temperature differences were observed on clear nights compared to cloudy ones.
Temperature differences diminished significantly when wind speeds exceeded 8 m/s.

Abstract

Parallel observations taken for 28 months at two sites at Coonabarabran, New SouthWales, show that topography has a dramatic influence on minimum temperatures at the two locations. Over the period of the study mean minimum temperatures at a valley site were 4.9°C lower than those at a plateau site 6.6 km away and 133 metres higher in elevation, with differences of up to 14.3°C occurring on individual nights. The results also indicate that the minimum temperature differences between the two sites are greater on clear nights than on cloudy nights, and are largely eliminated on nights where winds exceed 8 m s-1. The observed minimum temperature differences imply a dramatic variation in frost risk, depending on local topography.

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